Radiologic clinics of North America
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Radiol. Clin. North Am. · Mar 2017
ReviewThe Evidence for and Against Corticosteroid Prophylaxis in At-Risk Patients.
Corticosteroid prophylaxis is commonly used for the prevention of allergiclike reactions to iodinated and gadolinium-based contrast material in patients at highest risk of an allergiclike reaction. However, it has only a weak mitigating effect on allergiclike reactions, probably does not affect the severity of subsequent reactions, and does not prevent all reactions. Breakthrough reactions occur, are usually the same severity as the index reaction, and can occasionally be life threatening. Premedication of inpatients is likely associated with substantial cost and harm because of hospital length-of-stay prolongation; these indirect effects may exceed the benefits of premedication in this population.
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Radiol. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2016
ReviewImaging of Pulmonary Manifestations of Connective Tissue Diseases.
Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by circulating autoantibodies and autoimmune-mediated organ damage. Common CTDs with lung manifestations are rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or systemic sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosis, mixed connective tissue disease, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease. The most common histopathologic patterns of CTD-related interstitial lung disease are nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, usual interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and lymphoid interstitial pneumonia. Drug treatment of CTDs can cause complications, including opportunistic infection.
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Acute lung injury (ALI) is the clinical syndrome associated with histopathologic diffuse alveolar damage. It is a common cause of acute respiratory symptoms and admission to the intensive care unit. ⋯ Radiologists must be aware of the radiographic and computed tomographic findings of ALI and its mimics. This article discusses the multidisciplinary diagnosis of ALI from the perspective of the imager.
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This article outlines adductor-related groin pain, pubic-related groin pain, inguinal-related groin pain, and iliopsoas-related groin pain, with a description of the corresponding functional anatomy and imaging findings. The imaging has been described mainly in terms of MR imaging findings as this is the principal imaging modality used to investigate groin pain, although plain radiographs and ultrasound can be very useful adjuncts in specific circumstances, especially if an alternative pathology needs to be excluded.
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Radiol. Clin. North Am. · May 2016
ReviewState-of-the-Art Imaging and Staging of Plasma Cell Dyscrasias.
Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) is a clinically asymptomatic premalignant clonal plasma cell or lymphoplasmacytic proliferative disorder. Smoldering multiple myeloma, also called asymptomatic multiple myeloma, is an intermediate stage between MGUS and symptomatic multiple myeloma. ⋯ Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a distinct subtype of plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in the bone marrow with an associated IgM monoclonal gammopathy. Amyloidosis is a condition characterized by extracellular deposition of fibrils composed of a variety of normal serum proteins.